By TIOL News Service

AHMEDABAD, JULY 25, 2014: THE Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Superintendent and an Inspector, both of Central Excise, Vadodara (Gujarat) in a bribery case.

It was alleged in the complaint that the Superintendent had originally demanded a bribe Rs. 15,000/- for issue of Central Excise Registration number for the firm of the complainant which was subsequently reduced to Rs.10,000/-. The Complainant did not want to pay the bribe and lodged a complaint with CBI. A case was registered and a trap was laid. The Superintendent was caught red handed while demanding & accepting the bribe of Rs.10000/- from the Complainant at his office on 24.07.2014(Evening). When the CBI team confronted the Superintendent immediately after the acceptance of the bribe amount; his subordinate officer, an Inspector of Central Excise who had processed the application of the complainant on file, tried to escape from the office building with the relevant file. He also allegedly tore apart the relevant document containing his signature & the Superintendent's signature and threw the torn pieces near the boundary wall of the office in an attempt to destroy the evidence. However, the Inspector was chased and caught by the CBI. The torn pieces of the relevant documents have also been recovered.

Searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of accused. Cash amount of Rs. three Lakhs was recovered from the residence of the Superintendent apart from the relevant documents.

Both the arrested accused are being produced today before the Jurisdictional Court.

Further investigation is continuing.